Kelkheim's new building yard: reduce costs for a better working environment

Kelkheim's new building yard: reduce costs for a better working environment

Kelkheim is facing an important decision regarding the building yard on Jahnstrasse. Thomas Horn from the CDU said in the building committee that the 15 million euros required to renovate the extremely outdated building yard represented a significant financial burden. The project was supported in principle, but with the express desire to significantly reduce costs. Horn suggested cutting spending by up to 20 percent while also considering systems that encourage more cost-effective construction methods.

An important point here is the city's responsibility to offer employees a good working environment. Jürgen Schnabel, his colleague, emphasized that the structural conditions have suffered greatly in recent times and this could lead to a risk of employees leaving if no improvements are made. One aspect that Horn and Schnabel supported is the possibility of building in sections to better manage costs.

Cost reduction and service description

Patrick Büttner, the head of the building authority, agreed with the CDU's concerns and was open to measures to reduce costs. A possible approach would be a careful service description that only specifies the minimum necessary requirements. This requirement could lead to more construction companies taking part in the tender. However, one of the challenges remains the location; The conditions surrounding the old landfill require sophisticated planning for the foundation of the new buildings.

Horn draws comparisons to private sector projects where the budgets are significant and not everything can be realized. This also included the annual court payment for loans of around 700,000 euros, which could put a long-term burden on the city. First City Councilor Dirk Hofmann emphasized that a fundamental decision is required in order to be able to provide appropriate funds in the 2025 budget, with the aim of allowing construction work to begin in 2026.

Location alternatives excluded

A proposal to move the location to the Münster-Süd industrial estate was quickly rejected. The administration clarified that the existing location is not only cheaper in terms of cost but also better integrates the facilities needed to complete the construction yard. A new building at another location would only be possible by 2028 or 2029, while the gentlemen from Jahnstrasse could start planning from 2025.

An earlier cost estimate was around 9.5 million euros, but this has since increased to 15 million. The main drivers here are the dilapidated supply lines and the necessary improvements to ensure adequate fire protection, which are particularly important in an area with elevated tanks. The city plans to modernize the building yard, taking sustainable energy production into account, including through an air heat pump combined with a photovoltaic system. The discussion will continue intensively today in the Main and Finance Committee.